by Steve Gardner, USA TODAY Sports

by Steve Gardner, USA TODAY Sports

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When Team USA begins play in the World Baseball Classic on Friday, the starting lineup will look a lot like the one that took the field for Wednesday's exhibition against the Colorado Rockies.

Barring something unforeseen -- such as Mark Tiexeira's wrist injury -- manager Joe Torre expects to turn in this lineup card for the opener at Chase Field vs. Mexico:

"I like the middle guys up at the top of the lineup," Torre said. "I think they can give us a lot of energy with Jimmy and Brandon. If that's not it, it'll be close to it."

Phillips had four hits in an 8-7 loss to Colorado that ended with the home team scoring six runs in the bottom of the ninth -- off a pair of minor leaguers the Rockies loaned to Team USA after their pitchers had finished their scheduled work.

Torre was particularly pleased with the effort he got behind the plate -- and at the plate -- from Jonathan Lucroy and Arencibia, who drove in four runs between them. He said the team is making good progress in getting ready for the opener.

"They understand what our goal is. They're all very committed," Torre said. "When you go in there and you talk to a couple of them, everybody else listens. It's been a good experience for us so far and I expect the same throughout the tournament."

Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey of the Toronto Blue Jays will be on the mound for Team USA against Mexico for the opener on Friday. He'll be opposed by Brewers right-hander Yovani Gallardo.

The United States was eliminated in the second round in the inaugural WBC in 2006, then made it to the semifinal round in 2009. That provides at least some motivation for this year's squad.

"I think it would be cool at some point say we were the first USA team to win it. It hasn't been done before," Wright said. "Then also, just the pride factor ... There's an emphasis on winning, not just coming out here and playing it like an exhibition."